The Red Rover eBook

who knew him best, however, said that the question
of combat was not yet decided in his mind; and hundreds
of eager glances were thrown in the direction of his
contracting eye, as if to penetrate the mystery in
which he still chose to conceal his purpose. He
had thrown aside the sea-cap, and stood with the fair
hair blowing about a brow that seemed formed to give
birth to thoughts far nobler than those which apparently
had occupied his life, while a species of leathern
helmet lay at his feet, the garniture of which was
of a nature to lend an unnatural fierceness to the
countenance of its wearer. Whenever this boarding-cap
was worn, all in the ship were given to understand
that the moment of serious strife was at hand; but,
as yet, that never-failing evidence of the hostile
intention of their leader was unnoticed.

In the mean time, each officer had examined into,
and reported, the state of his division; and then,
by a sort of implied permission on the part of their
superiors, the death-like calm, which had hitherto
reigned among the people, was allowed to be broken
by suppressed but earnest discourse; the calculating
chief permitting this departure from the usual rules
of more regular cruisers, in order to come at the
temper of the crew, on which so much of the success
of his desperate enterprises so frequently depended.

Chapter XXVII.

——­“For
he made me mad,
To see him shine so brisk, and smell so
sweet,
And talk so like a waiting gentlewoman.”——­

King Henry IV

The moment was now one of high and earnest excitement.
Each individual, who was charged with a portion of
the subordinate authority of the ship, had examined
into the state of his command, with that engrossing
care which always deepens as responsibility draws
nigher to the proofs of its being worthily bestowed.
The voice of the harsh master had ceased to inquire
into the state of those several ropes and chains that
were deemed vital to the safety of the vessel; each
chief of a battery had assured and re-assured himself
that his artillery was ready for instant, and the most
effective, service; extra ammunition had already issued
from its dark and secret repository; and even the
hum of dialogue had ceased, in the more engrossing
and all-absorbing interest of the scene. Still
the quick and ever-changing glance of the Rover could
detect no reason to distrust the firmness of his people.
They were grave, as are ever the bravest and steadiest
in the hour of trial; but their gravity was mingled
with no signs of concern. It seemed rather like
the effect of desperate and concentrated resolution,
such as braces the human mind to efforts which exceed
the ordinary daring of martial enterprise. To
this cheering exhibition of the humour of his crew
the wary and sagacious leader saw but three exceptions;
they were found in the persons of his lieutenant and
his two remarkable associates.